[Speed Gibson,
Sunday July 1, 2007 at 8:33pm]
Replace Mandernach
I have some sympathy for embattled Minnesota Health Commissioner Diane Mandernach. Accepted bureaucratic and regulatory practice is to be slow to react. Exceptions like Mike Hatch who prematurely rush to a microphone draw immediate fire and often are later embarrassed when the final facts don't support the claims.
Maybe I'm rushing to judgment, but what I see and hear tells me that Commissioner Mandernach probably needs to resign. The evidence appears to have been significant and reliable enough to question why the information was withheld. I see no evidence of malice or being beholden to industry, just bad judgment.
Her claim that she was waiting to develop a more complete presentation, specifically to include action plans and recommendations doesn't work. It's not her job, at least not her job alone. Put the problem in play for all the players to consider - the employers, the unions, health care providers, and the government.
Mandernach illustrates why Pawlenty's appointment of Steve Sviggum as Commissioner of Labor and Industry is so correct. Department heads in government must have proven political experience, and at the level required. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales illustrates why.
It isn't fair, but its why no matter how competent in your field, you can't hope to succeed on that alone. Dr. Cheri Yecke was probably the best Education Commissioner in recent memory yet an easy victim for Senators who once again put the needs of their union contributors ahead of Minnesota's school children. Current Commissioner Alice Seagren seems to know precious little by comparison, but she's politically competent enough to get at least some things done.
Sometime before the Legislature convenes next year, Pawlenty would do well to thank Diane Mandernach for her service and find a poltically able replacement to run the Health Department. This is doubly important now, for one of the few battles Pawlenty lost was over health care funding, again well out of control thanks to the DFL.
Maybe I'm rushing to judgment, but what I see and hear tells me that Commissioner Mandernach probably needs to resign. The evidence appears to have been significant and reliable enough to question why the information was withheld. I see no evidence of malice or being beholden to industry, just bad judgment.
Her claim that she was waiting to develop a more complete presentation, specifically to include action plans and recommendations doesn't work. It's not her job, at least not her job alone. Put the problem in play for all the players to consider - the employers, the unions, health care providers, and the government.
Mandernach illustrates why Pawlenty's appointment of Steve Sviggum as Commissioner of Labor and Industry is so correct. Department heads in government must have proven political experience, and at the level required. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales illustrates why.
It isn't fair, but its why no matter how competent in your field, you can't hope to succeed on that alone. Dr. Cheri Yecke was probably the best Education Commissioner in recent memory yet an easy victim for Senators who once again put the needs of their union contributors ahead of Minnesota's school children. Current Commissioner Alice Seagren seems to know precious little by comparison, but she's politically competent enough to get at least some things done.
Sometime before the Legislature convenes next year, Pawlenty would do well to thank Diane Mandernach for her service and find a poltically able replacement to run the Health Department. This is doubly important now, for one of the few battles Pawlenty lost was over health care funding, again well out of control thanks to the DFL.